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Arianna Cowling (Director, Financing Solutions for Nature at the DCEEW of Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water)

Arianna Cowling

Director, Financing Solutions for Nature at the DCEEW of Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Arianna is the Director of Financing Solutions for Nature in the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. In her role, she sits on the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Stewardship Council, and manages the Australian Government’s TNFD work program and stakeholder engagement.

Previously, Arianna held several roles at Treasury, working on taxation, superannuation and retirement income policy, modelling and forecasting, and roles at the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Arianna holds a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Hons)/Arts from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Jay Hender (Head - Natural Capital at Climate Friendly)

Jay Hender

Head - Natural Capital at Climate Friendly

Jay heads up our work on natural capital and structuring ways to incentivise land management practices that provide ecosystem benefits. From Perth, WA, Jay has lived in many places around Australia, not to mention more far flung locales like Miami. His background in Government policy and private environmental consultancy services are a great combination helping Climate Friendly’s drive to effect change and deliver benefits for the land, landholders and the community.

Estelle Parker (Executive Manager at Responsibleinvestment)

Estelle Parker

Executive Manager at Responsibleinvestment

Estelle Parker leads RIAA’s research, certification, policy, standards and working group programs. She brings 20 years’ experience leading strategic initiatives as a diplomat, policy analyst, stakeholder manager and strategic planner with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Estelle has served, inter alia, as Acting Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador to Mexico, Central America and Cuba; Deputy State Director (Victoria); Policy Adviser to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands; and as Director overseeing the development and management of bilateral relationships.

Estelle also worked for five years at the University of Melbourne, where she lectured in the Master of Public Policy and Management and Master of International Relations. She is currently Chair of the Board at Wild at Heart Community Arts, which helps people who experience disability, mental illness and disadvantage to tell their stories through art and music making.

Sally Townsend (Head of Sustainability at Blackmores Group)

Sally Townsend

Head of Sustainability at Blackmores Group

Sally Townsend is a passionate Sustainability and Communications professional. She has 20 years of experience in the retail and healthcare sectors and specialises in developing strategies with a strong corporate narratives and deep alignment throughout organisations.
In her role as Head of Sustainability for Blackmores Group, Sally has responsibility for the Group Sustainability Vision aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and is working to integrate these commitments into the core business strategy to deliver on the company’s sustainability vision for a world where people and nature thrive together. In 2020, Blackmores committed to Net Zero Emissions by 2030 and has progressed the journey to have a deeper understanding of human rights, climate resilience and biodiversity impacts across their global supply chain.

Laura Waterford (Director of Pollination)

Laura Waterford

Director of Pollination

Laura’s work focusses on nature-positive corporate strategy and policy, and opportunities in the natural capital and nature-based solutions space. Laura advises clients on nature-related risks and opportunities in line with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures guidance and is a member of the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia’s nature risk working group. Laura has deep expertise on carbon markets and is also a member of the World Economic Forum and Taskforce on Nature Markets working groups on voluntary biodiversity credit markets. Prior to joining Pollination, Laura was a climate and environmental lawyer at leading national and international law firms and she was a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards in the Planning & Environment category in 2020-2022.

Guy Williams (Member of the TNFD Taskforce and Global Nature Lead at Deloitte)

Guy Williams

Member of the TNFD Taskforce and Global Nature Lead at Deloitte

Guy Williams is a Director in Deloitte's Risk Advisory practice supporting a global network of clients to develop science-based solutions to existing and emerging biodiversity challenges. Guy brings a unique balance and perspective to the rapidly evolving natural capital agenda, gained from over twenty years field research in landscape ecology across Asia and the Pacific, academic skills in biodiversity, anthropology, and corporate sustainability, combined with his ongoing work advising business to better manage and effectively value nature. Guy serves on the membership of the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosure, the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management and Species Survival Commission, and is an active supporter of the Science Based Targets Network. Guy maintains a deep and ongoing interest in community-led conservation, and the use of digital media to support effective conservation strategies.